Over the Edge by Irene Hannon

When I hear the name of Irene Hannon I think about an author of sweet romance novels and suspense novels. While I am a fan of all her books, my favorite is her suspense novels. Her most recent release is Over the Edge, book 2 in her "Undaunted Courage" series.

This book grabbed me from the first page to the very last. A lot of times I can guess who the bad guy is but let me tell you, I never saw the ending coming. What a roller coaster ride I took and enjoyed every single page.

The female protagonist is Lindsey Barnes, who owns a private chef company, making meals for the elite.  She is a trauma survivor that has fully recovered until one day when she finds a dead body in the kitchen of one of her clients. She then hides because she hears someone else in the house...the killer.

The male protagonist is Police Detective Jack Tucker, who enters the story as the detective assigned to the case. He also used to date Lindsey's best friend, that is until her friend died and Lindsey blamed him. This makes for a not so pleasant start for either of them.

Miss Hannon has created two well developed, strong-willed characters in Lindsey and Jack and I fell in love with both of them.

If you love romantic suspense novels, you will find this book will captivate you until the very last page. I highly recommend it!

On a five-star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Over the Edge. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

I have been wanting to read a book by Amanda Cox for some time but haven't had the chance until now. Her newest book, Between the Sound and the Sea, was lyrical. I now understand why her readers call her a master storyteller. 

This book kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next. It was a multi-layered story about second chances, redemption, hope, and love and I loved every word. A mystery was involved, and while the story is set in modern times, Ms. Cox weaved historical flashbacks into the story. 

The story is character-driven and the reader is allowed to see the character's growth throughout the pages. I loved all the characters and enjoyed seeing them develop. 

In my opinion, Ms. Cox does great character building which brings her characters to life on every page. I can honestly say, this may be my first book by this author, it definitely won't be my last.

I would highly recommend Between the Sound and Sea to anyone who loves books that contain a little bit of mystery, has the theme of a second chance, contains historical flashbacks, faith-based stories, and romance. This book has it all.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Between the Sound and Sea. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Hidden in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard

Hidden in the Night is Elizabeth Goddard's third and final book in her "Missing in Alaska" series. This has been an awesome series to read and, if the truth be told, I am sad it is ending.  The story is set in Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska and is filled with suspense, danger, and lots of tension that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. While it is the third book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone book.                                                                                              The story is about Former FBI Special Agent Ivy Elliott who now is a rare book collector and Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long. These two characters have a brief history and sparks fly when they encounter each other again. Ivy, who lives in Florida, has come to Alaska to purchase an unpublished Jack London manuscript. When she arrives she discovers the manuscript has been taken by the owner's granddaughter, Danna. So Ivy heads off to find Danna only to find out she is missing. In the meantime, Trooper Nolan finds himself involved in a possible homicide but he and his partner can't find a body. Ivy and Nolan end up working together to find the missing granddaughter and end up dodging danger with every move. I loved both characters and the tension that was between them was palpable. 

The reader is taken on a fast-paced journey filled with mystery and suspense. I was kept guessing throughout the book and really didn't see the ending coming.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves clean romantic suspense novels.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Hidden in the Night. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn

From the Back Cover:

THEY'LL PROTECT THE PRESIDENT IF IT'S THE LAST THING THEY DO...AND IT JUST MIGHT BE.

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light. 

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

My Review:

When given the opportunity to read and review Under Fire by Lynn H. Blackburn I couldn't resist it. It is the third and final book in her "Defend and Protect" series. However, it can be read as a stand-alone book.

The story's main characters are US Secret Service Agent Tessa Reed and US Secret Service Agent Zane Thacker who is attached to the president's detail.  The president plans to attend a fundraiser at the private estate of one of his friends in Raleigh. Tessa is assigned to the Raleigh office and is given the presidential fundraiser to oversee the security. Tessa and Zane have a past and are now best friends even though he really would like to take their relationship further. The relationship between characters grows as the story progresses and we soon find out why Zane has a key to Tessa's house which tracks back to a very deep dark secret from her past that actually ties into the situation they now find themselves in...someone is threatening both Tessa and the president.

I love Ms. Blackburn's characterization in all of her books. From the first page to the last her characters pull me in and transport me on their journey with plenty of nail-biting suspense, twists and turns, and plenty of tension. Under Fire was no different and kept me guessing until the very end.

One thing that puzzled me was the epilogue. Now, most epilogues that I have read tied up the book's romantic suspense storyline. However, in Under Fire, the epilogue appears to be setting up another book or storyline and that part left me wondering a little as to what it all meant.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romantic suspense novel with great characterization.

I give this book 5 Stars.

I would like to thank Revell Books and NetGalley, for my copy of Under Fire. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

The Light of Sound by Sarah Sundin

In my opinion, Sarah Sundin is one of the greatest novelists of WWII fiction. Her newest novel, The Sound of Light just released on 02/07/2023 and it is a sure winner!

Set in Denmark in the early 1940s, we follow the lives of Dr. Elsebeth Jensen (Else for short) an American physicist working in Copenhagen, and Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt an aristocrat who has taken on an alias of Hemming Andersen so he can aid in the Danish resistance against the Germans. Both end up working for the resistance.

I found the book a little slow for me in the beginning but it picked up its pace and I found I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I think part of the reason I found it slow is that Ms. Sundin used Danish words throughout and in the beginning, I flipped to the back of the book to find the pronunciation and meaning of the foreign words. In time I didn't need to do that so the journey through the pages picked up. I do appreciate the glossary and pronunciation guides Ms. Sundin included. I have read some books where a glossary wasn't provided and I had to look up the words for their meanings on the internet.

Ms. Sundin's characters were well-developed and multi-layered which brought them true to life on the page. I found myself glued to the edge of my seat at times and I loved watching the relationship between Else and Hemming grow.

If you are a fan of historical fiction and especially books set during the WWII period I would highly recommend picking up a copy of The Sound of Light.

I give this book 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of The Sound of Light. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Cold LIght of Day by Elizabeth Goddard

As a big fan of Elizabeth Goddard, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of her newest novel, Cold Light of Day which is the first book in her new series "Missing in Alaska". I must say that I wasn't disappointed.

The leading characters are Police Chief Autumn Long and Grier Brenner, a newcomer to town. I was intrigued by both of these characters from the start. They were both very well crafted, they pulled me in and didn't let me go until the very last page.

The story is set in Shadow Gap, a little town in Alaska. It is said people come to this town to disappear, as is the case for Grier. But while he would like to fade into the terrain he can't help but get involved when nefarious things start happening. He soon has the Police Chief asking for his help.

I really enjoyed Ms. Goddard's character and how she brought them to life. They carried me away from the first page and I found myself on a roller coaster that carried me deep into the night. I would have stayed up until I finished it, but I knew I needed to get at least a few hours of sleep. So I read it in two days and can hardly wait for Book 2 in the series.

If you enjoy romantic suspense novels that are fast-paced and keep you guessing I would highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Cold Light of Day.

On a Five Star scale - 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Cold Light of Day. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

Targeted by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters

I love reading novellas so when three are combined into one book by authors that I love, I jump at the chance to get a copy. Targeted by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn and Natalie Walters is a book in which all three novellas will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The first novella, On the Run, by Lynette Eason, is the story of FBI agent Daria Nevsky. Daria is an IT Specialist who can hack into any computer, and Dr. Ryker Donahue who is an ER doctor. Daria is attacked within the first few pages and she ends up driving her attacker's car from Quantico, VA down to Asheville, NC, and ends up in Dr. Donahue's ER. When Daria goes in search of answers, Ryker decides he can't let her go alone. This was an awesome addition to this book.

The second novella, Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn was the story of Emily Dixon, a physical therapist, and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper. Emily is tasked to give physical therapy to the Vice President's son, Mason and it is Liam's job to keep Mason in line. When someone tries to kidnap Mason, Emily and Liam find themselves working together to keep him safe. I loved that the story began with a relationship already beginning between Emily and Liam and I loved their playful teasing. Another excellent addition to the book.

The third and final novella, Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters was the story of CIA officer Claudia Gallegos and Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman. When Claudia walks in on the murder of a Saudi Prince she finds herself being implicated in his murder. Ari is assigned to help her but Claudia doesn't trust anyone, especially Ari as he is known as being a "player" and she can't help but notice how handsome he is. But as time progresses and Ari saves her more than once Claudia begins to realize he is more than just a 'pretty boy'. 

All three novellas are fast-paced and give the reader a roller coaster ride to the finish. I loved all six of the main characters. All three authors are great at creating believable characters and that is something that is very important to me. So, if you love fast-past romantic suspense I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Targeted.

I give each novella 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Targeted. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon

Back Copy

THE DEAD DON'T GIVE UP

THEIR SECRETS EASILY

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demises appear to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths, as well as her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. and once they join forces to investigate, danger follows. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives--including Grace's.

Queen of inspirational romantic suspense Irene Hannon closes out her bestselling Triple Threat series with this gripping tale of secrets revealed and romance sparked.

My Review

The third and final book in Irene Hannon's "Triple Threat" series, Body of Evidence, was a great conclusion to the series.

The characters, forensic pathologist Grace Reilly and Sheriff Nate Cox were both crafted to be believable, life-like people. Both characters have their flaws but the electric charges that spark the pages every time they meet lets the reader know these two are destined to be together. 

Ms. Hannon has created a page-turner that I found hard to put down. The characters involved throughout the book kept me guessing as to who the murderer was. 

If you like a good clean romantic suspense novel then you won't go wrong by picking up a copy of Body of Evidence. While this is the third book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone. 

I would highly recommend this book and award it 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Body of Evidence. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Concrete Evidence by DiAnn Mills

BACK COVER

A FAULTY CONSTRUCTION JOB. 

THE DISCOVERY OF A DEAD BODY.

A SINISTER PLOT.

On the family's Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather's commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she's always believed him to be...until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery's just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire country.

MY REVIEW:

I am a HUGE fan of the work by DiAnn Mills. She has never disappointed me and with her newest release, Concrete Evidence, I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed with this release either. She knows how to craft a Christian Romantic Suspense novel so that the reader is pulled into the action from the first page and carried through to the last page. I can honestly say it was hard to not put it down when I needed to.

The characters in Concrete Evidence, Avery Elliott, her Grandfather Senator Quinn Elliott, and FBi Special Agent Marc Wilkins were all so captivating to me. I loved the love that pulsated through the conversations between Avery and her Grandad. They stole my heart. Then the interaction between Avery and Marc was electric. But the action that really brought me to tears at times was the interaction between Marc and his 'newfound' 15-year-old sister, Tessa. It was so precious.

I can't say enough about this novel. It is so well written with great characters that stole my heart. If you like a clean romantic suspense novel then I would highly recommend picking up a copy of Concrete Evidence. 

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 HUGE Stars!!!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Concrete Evidence. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Deception by Patricia Bradley

Patricia Bradley's newest book, Deception, is book number four in her "Natchez Trace Park Rangers" series. It is extremely fast-paced and will keep you reading long into the night trying to figure out who all the bad guys are.

The main characters are Madison Thorn, an ISB (Investigative Services Bureau) Ranger, and Clayton Bradshaw a park ranger for the Natchez Trace. These two meet early in the story and later realize they knew each other as kids. I really enjoyed getting to know each of these characters who were both flawed in one way or another. Madison had trust issues as well as forgiveness issues. Clayton had a gambling addiction that he is overcoming because he has grown close to the Lord and he also has forgiveness issues that he is working on. Ms. Bradley did an excellent job of creating all the characters in this book.

There are so many twists and turns in this story that it seemed almost impossible that Ms. Bradley would get them all addressed, but she tied things up quite nicely.

Although, I would love at least one more book in the series that would tell Dani's story and let her and Madison have more time to bond. 

I truly enjoyed this romantic suspense novel and the Christian thread through it. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves fast-paced clean romantic suspense novels.

On a 5-Star scale I give it 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Deception. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Fatal Code by Natalie Walters

When I had the opportunity to read and review Natalie Walters's new book I jumped at the chance. Her newest book, Fatal Code is the second book in "The SNAP Agency" series and I can only say this book is just as good, if not better, than the first book in the series, Lights Out (read my review here)!

Elinor Mitchell is an aerospace engineer working for Lepley Dynamics. Her grandfather was part of a group of scientists who came close to finishing a nuclear energy project but never completed it. When her grandfather dies she takes it quite hard. He left notebooks behind that gave her comfort knowing they were his. What she doesn't realize is there are codes within them that can lead her to the cipher that is needed to complete the 'fatal code'. 

The owner of Lepley Dynamics has hired the SNAP Agency (Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency) because there is a leak in his organization causing important information to get to their competitors. Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is a member of the SNAP Agency and was given the task of monitoring Elinor as she is suspected of leaking the information.  This soon leads to Kekoa having to protect her as well. Other countries are trying to secure the information from Elinor in any way possible. 

All the characters in this series are well crafted and seem to come to life on the written page. I will say that Kekoa is my favorite character overall at this point. I loved the way he showed his soft vulnerable side when he was with his family and Elinor. I also loved Elinor's quirkiness when she wore t-shirts with scientific equations on them and also when she would tell her quirky jokes. 

There were also moments that brought tears to my eyes such as the line on page 121 where, speaking about her grandfather, Elinor tells Kekoa, "It's like I can run my fingers over his writing and feel closer to him, read his words and hear his voice speaking to me." Or on page 222, "Kekoa's knees buckled, and his father ran to him, strong arms wrapping around him as he collapsed into them, releasing the sorrow, anguish, pain, and regret he'd been holding on to for fourteen years."

There are two things that interfered with me having a 100% enjoyable read. The first was located on page 50 when the author states Kekoa was living his own version of Grey's Anatomy without the medical part and also on the same page she referenced Mad Men. I have never seen either show and so the references fell flat for me. Also, with Kekoa being of Hawaiian descent, in the first quarter of the book there are a lot of Hawaiian words that in order for me to fully understand, I had to look the words up on the internet. This slowed down my reading pace. I will say that the pace picked back up once I got past all the Hawaiian words. I wish Ms. Walters could have included a glossary in the front or back of the book that contained all the words.

I would highly suggest this book to anyone who loves a good fast-paced, suspenseful romance novel.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Fatal Code. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Catch by Lisa Harris

When I first discovered Lisa Harris her books held me spellbound and to be honest, they still do.

Her newest book, The Catch, is her third and final installment of the U.S. Marshals series and the reader finally finds out who killed Madison's husband (the case in the first book). Please note that even though this is the third book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone as there are references to the past.

The story is about Deputy U.S. Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn. During the course of this book, three cases are solved, the death of a judge's wife, a missing babysitter along with the baby in her care, as well as, discovering who murdered Madison's husband. Could they all be connected?

I find that when characters are brought to life on the written page and endear themselves to me through their actions and words, I don't hesitate to read more by the author. Ms. Harris creates well-rounded characters that seem to live and breathe between the pages. Madison and Jonas did just that for me.

The Catch is a fast-paced journey filled with suspense and mystery. You might find that the characters aren't necessarily as they seem. I found myself thinking ill of one character but in the end, well, I may have been wrong.

If you like fast-paced, edge-oh-your-seat action novels with a little bit of romance tucked in I am sure you will love The Catch.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of The Catch. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Life Flight by Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason's newest book Life Flight is the first book in her new series "Extreme Measures". I can honestly say this book is my new favorite by Ms. Eason and I can hardly wait for Book #2.

Today was not going to be the day they died-not if she had anything to say about it." This is the first line in this book and it set the pace for the journey the reader will take through the pages.

EMS helicopter pilot, Penny Carlton, is forced to land her helicopter on a mountain during a storm. She has no way to communicate to her base so she leaves her patient and crew in the helicopter while she goes down the mountain for help. Little does she know there is an escaped serial killer loose on the mountain.

The male lead is FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield. He and Penny have had a couple of 'outings' and telephone conversations but they aren't a certified couple. At least not yet. It is because of Holt that Penny survives the journey on the mountain and the attacks that followed.

Ms. Eason always creates wonderfully strong and well-developed characters and she didn't disappoint me with the characters of Life Flight. Penny found herself in high-stress situations over and over again and the way she handled herself was remarkable. I enjoyed the interplay between Penny and Holt as well. Then there are Penny's two friends Grace and Juliana, from her days spent in juvie. These three women are like the three musketeers and always have each other's back. Then there are the serial killers and let us just say they are worthy of being hated as Ms. Eason wrote them so well.

I would highly recommend Life Flight to anyone over 18 who loves a clean romantic suspense novel. The reason I stated an age is there are scenes surrounding the serial killer's actions that might be a little disconcerting to someone younger.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Life Flight. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Lights Out by Natalie Walters

When I learned Natalie Walters had a new book out I jumped at the chance to review it. Her newest book, Lights Out, is the first book in "The SNAP Agency" series and I can only say this book has started the series off with a bang!

The heroine is CIA Analyst Brynn Taylor, who has developed a new program to combat terrorism. The hero is Jach Hudson who works for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency. The story begins with Brynn inviting members of foreign intelligence agencies to come to America to try to get them to cooperate between countries. Unfortunately, one of them is missing and he is an Egyptian spy. Jack is called in to take the lead in hunting down the missing spy. When he learns Brynn is involved, Jack is none too happy. It seems he had been betrayed by her in the past.

Ms. Walters has created great characters with real depth in their personalities. She brings a story that is believable in today's culture.

This story is filled with twists and turns taking the reader on a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat journey from beginning to end.

I would highly recommend Lights Out to anyone who enjoys a romantic suspense novel.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Lights Out. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley

I haven't read a Patricia Bradley novel that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. That goes for her newest novel, Crosshairs. This is the third novel in her "Natchez Trace Park Rangers" series but it can be read as a standalone.

This story is about Investigative Services Branch Ranger Ainsley Beaumont and former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele. These two have a past and now find themselves having to work together to solve Ainsley's case before the murderer takes her out. Linc will have to find the courage to get beyond his past issues in order to protect her.  

Ainsley arrives in her hometown, Natchez, Mississippi to investigate the murder of a young pregnant girl. Unfortunately, it has now triggered her as the killer's next target. Linc has some issues from his past that could hinder him from protecting Ainsley. Will he be able to pick up a gun again in order to protect her? Will they both be able to put the past behind them in order to succeed in bringing closure to the case?

Patricia Bradley brings a masterly crafted novel to life once again with believable characters and a story that takes the reader on a fast-paced roller coaster ride finding a little romance along the way. A must-read for all romantic suspense fans!

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell Books, for my copy of Crosshairs. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard

 

"For a few hours every Saturday morning, Wrin Larson could forget that evil existed." This is the opening sentence of Deadly Target, the second book in Elizabeth Goddard's "Rocky Mountain Courage" series. The first book in the series is Present Danger. While it is a series, both books can be read as a standalone. 

Erin Larson is a criminal psychologist who, in the opening chapter, almost loses her life in a boating accident. Or was it really an attempt on her life? She has a podcast regarding cold cases and it could be she stirred up a little concern about a previous cold case.

Nathan Campbell is fishing with his dad when he learns his dad is investigating a cold case and the only person he will trust is Nathan. Before Nathan's dad can tell him anymore he is shot. Nathan reaches out to Erin, his ex-girlfriend for help in solving the cold case...once they can find out which cold case his dad was working on.

I loved both Erin and Nathan. They both were strong believable characters with love for family and friends. I also loved the faith thread throughout the book.

Like all of Ms. Goddard's books, she takes you on a fast-paced journey of suspense, intrigue, and romance captivating the reader from page one and holding them to the very last page. 

I loved this book and I can hardly wait for the next installment of this series. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves sweet romantic suspense.

On a 5-Star scale = 5 Stars!!!

I would like to thank the author and Revell Books, for my copy of Deadly Target. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

Whether it is a romance novel or a romantic suspense novel, if Irene Hannon's name is on the cover it is a must-read for me. Her newest novel, Labyrinth of Lies is the second book in her Triple Threat series. The first novel in the series was Point of Danger. While these books are part of a series, they can be read as a stand-alone. 

Irene Hannon writes suspense novels that are not only intensely suspenseful but also capture the reader's attention from the first word to the very last. In Labyrinth of Lies I was drawn in and enjoyed a magnificent journey through all the twists and turns that presented themselves. Masterful!

The story is about St. Louis County Detective, Cate Reilly, and her former love interest, DEA Special Agent, Zeke Sloan. Cate has been assigned an undercover job as a student (she can easily pass as a 17-year-old) at an upscale boarding school, while Zeke is assigned a position as a Spanish teacher. While both are there for different reasons, Cate's case involves a missing student and her boyfriend while Zeke is trying to find out if the school is a major drop site for drugs. They soon find out their cases may be linked.

While I love both Cate and Zeke, my heart really went out to Cate's school roommate, Kayla. She lacked self-confidence and seemed quite introverted. However, the more Cate talked with Kayla and showed she truly cared about her the more Kayla grew and began to trust Cate. 

This story covers themes of learning to forgive, learning to trust, opening oneself up to others, and that there is always hope.

This story had me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. The ending for me caught me totally by surprise. I love it when an author can keep you guessing until the very end and when you get there you realize all your thoughts were wrong.

I would highly recommend Labyrinth of Lies to anyone who enjoys a good romantic suspense novel.

On a 5 Star Scale - 5 Stars!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my copy of Labyrinth of Lies. I received my copy for free with no expectation for a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Chase by Lisa Harris

I have read a lot of novels by Lisa Harris, but The Chase, in my opinion, is probably her best so far. Now this is the second book in her "U.S. Marshals" series, the first book being The Escape (unfortunately I haven't had a chance to pick up a copy yet). While they can be read as standalones I believe it would be best to read them in order as this is a series that contains a continuation thread.

I love great characters and Ms. Harris did not disappoint me with her two lead characters, U.S. Marshal Madison James and U.S. Marshal Jonas Quinn. Both characters bring the pages of this book to life and pull the reader into their world. 

The plot to me was fast paced and kept me guessing and pulling for the success of the characters. The main story concerned a series of bank robberies and Madison and Jonas were given the identity of someone that could have been involved. This took them on a chase from Seattle to the San Juan Islands keeping the reader sitting on the edge of the seat waiting for the climax to the hunt. 

The second storyline involves the death of Madison's husband (which occurred in the first book). In this book, it is revealed that Madison has a mental block on who actually killed her husband. There are some hints at the end of this book but unfortunately the reader will not learn the resolve until book three, The Catch. I can hardly wait for this third installment to be released.

If you are a fan of Lisa Harris and like fast paced action suspense novels that are clean and have a faith thread you must pick up a copy of The Chase. I promise you will not be disappointed.

On a 5-star scale = 5 HUGE Stars! I loved this book!

I would like to thank the author and Net Galley for my copy of The Chase. I received my copy for free with no expectation of a positive or negative review.  The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

Cindy

 

The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson

I love Christmas! I also love Christmas movies. But when it comes to a Christmas novel, well let's just say I love a good Melody Carlson book set during Christmas. This year her Christmas offering is The Christmas Swap. What a delightful book.

Emma Daley is the heroine. She is a substitute teacher in Arizona and since her parents are missionaries in Africa she is spending Christmas with her friend Gillian and Gillian's family. Gillian's dad thought it would be great to experience a white Christmas so he swapped their house in Arizona for a home in Breckenridge, Colorado. The home in Breckenridge is owned by West Prescott (aka TW Prescott a famous songwriter). West gets delayed in leaving to be with his family in Arizona and after he meets Emma, he decides to stay around awhile posing as the caretaker of his own home.

I loved Emma's sweet character & West's swoon-worthy character. But I have to admit, I never felt the warm fuzzies for Emma's friend Gillian as everything was about her. But you will have to read this delightful book to find out about them all.

I would highly recommend this sweet Christmas novel to anyone who loves a good sweet read. 

On a 5-Star Scale - 4 Stars.

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for my copy of The Christmas Swap I received my copy for free with no expectation for a positive or negative review. The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,

 

Acceptable Risk by Lynette Eason

FOR ONE JOURNALIST, THE STORY OF A LIFETIME IS HITTING TOO CLOSE TO HOME.

Sarah Denning is a military journalist with the Army in the Middle East when she is taken hostage. When former Army Ranger Gavin Black is asked by his old unit commander--Sarah's imposing father--to plan an extremely risky rescue, he reluctantly agrees and successfully executes it.

Back in the US, Sarah is livid when she's discharged on a false psychiatric evaluation and vows to return to the Army. Until she learns of her brother's suicide. Unable to believe her brother would do such a thing, she puts her plans on hold and enlists Gavin to help her discover the truth. What they uncover may be the biggest story of Sarah's career--if she can survive long enough to write it.

MY THOUGHTS

Acceptable Risk is the second book in Lynette Eason's series "Danger Never Sleeps". I can honesty say it can be read as a stand-alone book as I haven't had a chance to read the first book in the series, Collateral Damage and I had no difficulty. But, I will say I will be reading the first book soon as this series is going to be one of the best of Ms. Eason's career if the rest of the series is as wonderful as Acceptable Risk .

This book was intense and the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat from page one until the last page. It involved several former military personnel committing suicide, experimental medications and threats posed to the leading characters. 

I'm am a huge fan of Ms. Eason's books and have never been disappointed. She breathes life into her characters so they appear so real they pull you into their story. That is my kind of book.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, clean, suspenseful novel.

On a 5-Star scale = 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell for my copy of Acceptable Risk. I received my copy for free with no expectation for a positive or negative review. The opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR. Part 255.

Smiles & Blessings,